Phantoms Post-Game EXTRA! 2019-20 Season: Springfield - 4 at Lehigh Valley - 3 (SO)

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania -- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (2-1-2) fell to the Springfield Thunderbirds (3-4-0) by a score of 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday night.

The Phantoms were down 3-1 entering the third period and proceed to accumulate 21 of the next 26 shots on net throughout regulation and overtime. Two of those 21 shots found twine as both Nic Aube-Kubel and Morgan Frost tallied their first goals of the season.

Tonight's Game Story -> http://insideahlhockey.com/article/game-story-2019-20-season-springfield-at-lehigh-valley-101919

Three Things

1. Frost is on a roll

Even though the Phantoms lost, there were still many positives in the contest.

Morgan Frost scored the first goal of his professional hockey career and it was a big one. With the Phantoms trailing 3-2 despite the team firing an array of shots on goal, the rookie was able to poke the puck into the open net after forward Greg Carey was able to bat a puck out of thin air and force Desrosiers to make the stop.

Frost also scored the Phantoms’ only goal in the seven-round shootout.

Even though Frost was playing well prior to this weekend, the fact that he’s produced four points this weekend will be huge for his confidence and for the Phantoms’ roster.

2. Power-less Play

After going a perfect 3-for-3 on the power play on Friday night, the Black and Orange were unable to find twine on seven opportunities with the man advantage.

Generally, when you aren’t able to take advantage of your power play opportunities, it’s going to put you at a disadvantage. One could argue that their lack of production with the extra man was the number one factor in them dropping the tilt to the Thunderbirds.

3. A rough night for Brennan

In general, it has been a rough start to the season for veteran defenseman T.J. Brennan. Tonight was no different.

This was especially apparent in the second period.

After the Thunderbirds answered German Rubtsov’s goal with a tally of their own, the 30-year-old wasn’t able to keep up with forward Anthony Greco, who blew past him on his way to a breakaway goal.

Through five games, Brennan has yet tally a point. He may be the next candidate to fill the veteran scratch role in the first of two games against the Charlotte Checkers next weekend.

Post-Game Reaction

Head coach Scott Gordon

On battling back in the third period

We did not have our best in the first and second, but we made up for it in the third. Their stick getting in the way at the end there, could have been a win for us.

On if anything sparked third period play

We didn't play with any pace, we didn't protect the puck very well. Nothing was clean for two periods. We got them into situations where they were turning the puck over in the third period and kept the pressure constant so they were starting to receive the game the way we did in the first two periods.

On mixing up the line combos during the second period

Sometimes you just put them in a blender and throw them up. I tried a couple different things in the second. In the third period, I stuck with the combinations throughout the third. It was tough, we had three guys who didn't play last night. It was [Bunnaman's] first game coming down from Philly and Greg Carey didn't play last night. The lines were kind of shaken up a bit. It's a balancing act with the veteran issue that we have. It's a good issue, but we have to try to figure out how to manage it.

On Berube's play in net

Yeah, two periods -He gave up three - but honestly it could have been a lot worse. He made a big save on the breakaway early in the third period ... and that was all we needed to tie it up and get that point. It was by far his best game.